Hit and Run On Our 850 R

[Kirsty]

Although not having the damage would be best.

Definitely agree with you there!

I've just found out the name of the part I'm looking for: slam panel

My other half has found one for sale local to us, from an 850, would this fit an 850 R? Is there any difference between parts to models?

(Just checking in case the repair garage cannot source a brand new one).

[JRL]

I'm glad you're getting it fixed
However I know what parts you were referring to and they ARE the same, trust me on this, if you're going with used

[Kirsty]

JRL, thank you, yes, I trust you

Found one even cheaper so am a happy bunny, will speak to repair garage tomorrow about supplying our own etc.......

[IceTurbo]

Sounds like you've found a replacement part, and good on you for being able to fix it, wish I could have done the same to mine.

For the record, I've typically seen the front fiberglass piece referred to as the radiator support, not sure if that is correct or not.

[fazool]

I've had a few times on other cars (trucks) when the insurance company wants to scrap it because repair cost, labor, is so high. I have always been able to buy the salvage back and do the repairs myself and almost always come out ahead, Although not having the damage would be best.

My thoughts exactly

[Faheyk1981]

There is nothing worse that someone hitting your car and driving off without any details. Similar thing happened to me a few years back. I too pay fully comp insurance on my 99 V70. I'm only paying an extra $50 a yr for it. With other cars i've had, it actually cost the same as standard insurance. The car may only be worth $500 but i get extra cover like 'windscreen cover' & 'no claims bonus protection' and so on, which i wouldn't have with standard insurance. So if i crash into someone else or vice versa my insurance premium will never be effected. Sometimes its worth going fully comp...

[rspi]

I pay for comp insurance as well. Cost me about $35 per month. Came in handy when I hit a tire on the road and they gave me a check for $3,800 for my '95 960. Then again when my 18 year old ran my '97 960 in a ditch and took out a street sign with a light on top of it (damaged the roof of the car). They gave me a check for $4,500 for the damage and let me keep the car. I was able to get it fixed for $1,800.

Bottom line is, I can afford $35 per month but dumping $4,000+ into another car if mine is damaged would hurt.

[asimba2]

Insurance is quite a racket. They charge through the nose for premiums then offer you less money than it would take to actually replace the car. I see a lot of 850s in the wrecking yards with only minor damage. When the blue book value is $2,000-ish and a bumper cover costs $1,600 with paint, it's techically totaled. Most people seem to buy cars, drive them for 140,000 miles and dump them because they've done NO maintenance and repair totals start to stack up. Meanwhile, people like you that do invest nearly the value of the car in repairs to keep them properly maintained pretty much get screwed when it's time for a payout. At best you can buy another 850 that wasn't maintained. Sigh. I keep all of my repair receipts and if and when this does happen, I will at least present my argument that my car is better maintained and in better operating condition than suggested by blue book value and current sales ads. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[steve850]

I can sympathize. I lost my 02 Pathfinder over the holidays after being T-boned by a GMC Emvoy doing 30 mph. He blew the red light. My truck was mint outside and in, and I'd just finished getting it running perfectly. They wrote it off for a front strut assembly, fender and tables, and some paint. As far as dollar values are concerened, they were probably right, but it sucks to lose a vehicle that you really love. But i'm kind of glad i wasn't driving the 850 Platinum because I would have received a fraction of what it is worth in terms of "personal investment". As someone up this post said, they're not car guys. And in Quebec, if the insurance scraps it and buy it back and fix it, you have to have it inspected, and brand new cars fail imspections in this province!

[Nevada1906]

Insurance is money wasted unless you use it.

You've kept up your end by making the payments. Now it's their turn.

Tell them to shut up and cut you a check.

I actually ran an experiment once to determine what I call an Insurance Nexus. I plotted a descending line to track how much a car is worth and when, based on how fast it depreciates. Then I plotted an ascending line describing the amount of money I paid in insurance for said car.

Where the lines cross is where you have to go total the car in order to get your money's worth on the policy.